California

In This Section

Recognizes NASP-approved programs as meeting training requirements for out-of-state applicants.

SEA Credential (Commission on Teacher Credentialing):

Pupil Personnel Services Credential, Specialization in School Psychology (Trained In California): Individuals must satisfy all the following requirements:

  • A baccalaureate degree or higher, except in professional education, from a regionally-accredited college or university
  • Complete post baccalaureate degree study consisting of a minimum of 60 semester units in a California Commission-approved professional preparation program specializing in school psychology, including a practicum with school-aged children 
  • Obtain the recommendation of a California college or university with a Commission-approved Pupil Personnel Services program specializing in school psychology. This process will result in the college or university submitting the recommendation online. 
  • Complete the Basic Skills Requirement. See Commission leaflet CL-667, entitled Basic Skills Requirement for additional information.
  • Complete the Live Scan fingerprint process (form 41-LS) 
  • Pay the application processing fee (see Fee Information leaflet CL-659) once the recommendation has been submitted online by the college or university. Individuals will be notified via email that the application has been submitted and is awaiting payment in a secured database. 

Pupil Personnel Services Credential, Specialization in School Psychology (Trained Out-of-State): Individuals must satisfy all the following requirements:

  • A baccalaureate degree or higher, except in professional education, from a regionally accredited college or university.
  • Complete a professional program of postbaccalaureate degree study consisting of a minimum of 60 semester units specializing in school psychology, including a practicum requirement and supervised field experience with school-age children. Programs accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) meet this requirement. 
    • A letter verifying practicum and field experience must be on official letterhead from the college or university's education department and must accompany the application packet 
    • The applicant must verify eligibility for the equivalent credential authorization. A photocopy of the out-of-state credential is acceptable verification of this requirement, as is as is an eligibility CL-606 8/2016 Page 4 of 5 letter from the institution where the program was completed or the state agency responsible for issuing the certificate. 
    • If the out-of-state preparation does not fit this pattern, the applicant must contact a California college or university with a Commission-approved school psychology program for an evaluation and formal recommendation
  • Satisfy the Basic Skills Requirement. See CL-667 for additional information. Out-of-state prepared applicants who have not satisfied the basic skills requirement may contact their California employer about the possibility of obtaining a One-Year Nonrenewable (OYNR) Credential pending the completion of the basic skills requirement.
  • Completed application (form 41-4), and, if not previously submitted to the Commission, a completed Live Scan receipt (form 41-LS). Out-of-state residents must submit two fingerprint cards (FD-258) in lieu of a Live Scan receipt. If submitting fingerprint cards, current fingerprint processing fees must accompany the application packet.
  • Application processing fee (see Fee Information leaflet CL-659)

Continuing Education Requirements:
Must renew every 5 years through the website; however, there are no continuing education requirements for renewal.

Scope of Practice:
School psychologists with the SEA credential can provide services in public schools (K-12), early childhood and pre-K settings, and private and charter schools. The SEA credential also allows one to provide contract services in schools.

To practice outside of schools, one must become a Licensed Educational Psychologist by obtaining an additional license (beyond the PPS credential) from the Board of Behavioral Sciences. Licensed Educational Psychologists are authorized to perform the following additional duties:

  1. Educational evaluation
  2. Diagnosis of psychological disorders related to academic learning processes
  3. Administration of diagnostic tests related to academic learning processes including tests of academic ability, learning patterns, achievement, motivation, and personality factors.
  4. Interpretation of diagnostic tests related to academic learning processes including tests of academic ability, learning patterns, achievement, motivation, and personality factors.
  5. Providing psychological counseling for individuals, groups, and families.
  6. Consultation with other educators and parents on issues of social development and behavioral and academic difficulties.
  7. Conducting psychoeducational assessments for the purposes of identifying special needs.
  8. Developing treatment programs and strategies to address problems of adjustment.
  9. Coordinating intervention strategies for management of individual crises.
  10. Supervision of Associate Professional Clinical Counselors, Associate Clinical Social Workers and Associate Marriage and Family Therapists providing educationally related mental health services.

SEA website: http://www.ctc.ca.gov/

SEA document: https://www.ctc.ca.gov/docs/default-source/leaflets/cl606.pdf?sfvrsn=65c4016c_0

https://www.ctc.ca.gov/docs/default-source/leaflets/cl606c.pdf?sfvrsn=48a2868d_0

Board of Behavioral Sciences: http://www.bbs.ca.gov/
Board of Psychology: http://www.psychboard.ca.gov/